Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALFLAJ’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALFLAJ’, particularly characterized by having small, white flowers, 1 to 4 peduncles that are short and sturdy, leaves that are oblong, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALFLAJ’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrid of theOrchidaceae family, commonly referred to as moth orchid, and hereinafterreferred to by the variety name ‘PHALFLAJ’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The objectiveof this breeding program was to create a new Phalaenopsis plant withnumerous branches and attractive small white flowers, suitable forpotted plant production.

The new Phalaenopsis plant ‘PHALFLAJ’ is a result of cross-pollinationmade by the inventor in October 2005 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands ofthe proprietary female, or seed parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘11968-04’(unpatented) with the proprietary male, or pollen parent, Phalaenopsishybrid ‘23266-02’ (unpatented).

The new Phalaenopsis was selected by the inventor as a single plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands in June 2009. Asexualreproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by meristem tissue culturesince March 2012 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, has demonstrated thatthe new variety reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics,as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europeon Apr. 18, 2016. ‘PHALFLAJ’ has not been made publicly available orsold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing dateof this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and can be used todistinguish ‘PHALFLAJ’ as a new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsisplant.

-   -   1) Small, white flowers;    -   2) 1 to 4 peduncles;    -   3) Peduncle is short and sturdy; and    -   4) Shape of the leaf is oblong.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms andfoliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonablyobtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs weretaken in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, from 50-week oldplants in April 2016. Colors in the photographs may differ from thecolor values cited in the detailed botanical description, whichaccurately describe the actual colors of the new variety.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms and foliage of‘PHALFLAJ’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALFLAJ’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘PHALFLAJ’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘PHALFLAJ’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have notbeen observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotypemay vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature,light intensity and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype. The chart used in the identification of colors describedherein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society,London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms ofordinary significance are used. The color values were determined under4000-6000 lux natural light in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, TheNetherlands. Observations and measurements were made in April 2016 on50-week old plants which were planted from a nursery tray in 12centimeter (diameter) pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to29° C. for 30 weeks, continued by a cooling period of 8 weeks between18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.        -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.        -   Common name.—Moth orchid.        -   Variety name.—‘PHALFLAJ’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘11968-04’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘23266-02’ (unpatented).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture.-   Roots:    -   -   Root description.—Greyed-green colored roots with branching            lateral roots having light purple and light green colored            root tips.-   Plant:    -   -   Commercial crop time to flowering.—Approximately 48 to 50            weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a 12 cm pot.        -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Standard, green leaves and            panicle.        -   Height (from soil level to top of            inflorescence).—Approximately 26.0 cm to 36.0 cm.        -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—About 17.0 cm to 21.0 cm.        -   Vigor.—Strong.-   Leaves:    -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 8 to 10 leaves are            produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 12.0 cm            to 15.0 cm. Width: 8.0 cm to 9.0 cm. Shape: Oblong. Base            shape: Slightly elongated. Apex: Rounded unequal. Leaf blade            angle with the petiole (measured from the horizontal            position): Between 0 degrees and 25 degrees. Leaf margin:            Entire. Color: Upper surface: RHS NN137B. Lower surface: RHS            146A. Texture: Smooth. Thickness: 2.0 mm to 2.3 mm.            Venation: Pattern: Parallel. Color of the midvein: Upper            surface: RHS 147A. Lower surface: RHS 146A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 4.        -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—14 to 23.        -   Length.—26.0 cm to 36.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—4.1 mm to 4.3 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Green (RHS 146A) with a touch of dark purple (RHS            187A).        -   Internode length.—3.5 cm to 4.5 cm.        -   Callosities.—None.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, panicle            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 120.0 mm to            140.0 mm.        -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11            months after planting in a 12 cm (diameter) pot.        -   Flower.—Height: 59.0 mm to 61.0 mm. Diameter: 62.0 mm to            64.0 mm. Depth of lip: 15.0 mm to 17.0 mm.        -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 5 to 8 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Flower bud.—Average size: Medium. Length: 16.0 mm to            18.0 mm. Width: 13.0 mm to 15.0 mm. Shape: Egg shaped.            Color: Green (RHS N144D).        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open/free. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:            Rounded asymmetric. Margin: Entire. Length (from base to            tip): 28.0 mm to 30.0 mm. Width: 34.0 mm to 36.0 mm. Color            (when fully opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS            NN155C). Over color: Absent. Lower surface: Basic color:            White (RHS NN155C). Over color: Absent.        -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Obtuse symmetric.            Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 31.0 mm to            33.0 mm. Width: 22.0 mm to 24.0 mm. Color (when fully            opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS NN155C).            Over color: Absent. Lower surface: Basic color: White (RHS            NN155C). Over color: Absent.        -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse asymmetric.            Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 31.0 mm to            33.0 mm. Width: 18.0 mm to 20.0 mm. Color (when fully            opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS NN155C).            Over color: Absent. Lower surface: Basic color: White (RHS            NN155C). Over color: Light green (RHS 145D).        -   Labellum (lip).—Margin: Entire. Whiskers: Present. Length of            whiskers: 12.0 mm to 14.0 mm. Color of whiskers: White (RHS            NN155C). Pubescence on the lip: Absent.        -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Spatulate. Length (from base to tip):            16.0 mm to 18.0 mm. Width: 10.0 mm to 12.0 mm. Color: White            (RHS NN155C) and slightly green (RHS 150B) on one side with            a few purple (RHS 187C) stripes towards the base.        -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Triangular. Length: 14.0 mm to 16.0 mm.            Width: 17.0 mm to 19.0 mm. Color: White (RHS NN155C) with            green (RHS 150B) towards the callus.        -   Callus.—Average size: Small to medium. Height: 0.5 cm to            0.7 cm. Length: 0.3 cm to 0.5 cm. Width: 0.2 cm to 0.4 cm.            Color: Yellow (RHS 12B) and dotted.        -   Reproductive organs.—Column: Length: 7.0 mm to 9.0 mm.            Diameter: 4.0 mm to 4.2 mm. Color: White (RHS NN155C).            Pollinia: Quantity: 2. Diameter: 0.9 mm to 1.1 mm. Color:            Yellow-orange (RHS 23A). Ovary: Length: 7.0 mm to 9.0 mm.            Diameter: 2.0 mm to 2.2 mm. Pedicel: Length: 29.0 mm to            31.0 mm. Diameter: 2.2 mm to 2.5 mm. Color: Green (RHS            NN137B) and light green (RHS 144D) towards the flower.-   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed to pathogens and pests common to    Phalaenopsis.-   Fruit and seeds: Fruit and seed development has not been observed on    plants of the new Phalaenopsis.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘PHALFLAJ’ differs from female parent plant ‘11968-04’ (unpatented) inthat ‘PHALFLAJ’ has a small to medium callus, darker green peduncleswith a touch of dark purple, a rounded petal apex, and a striped laterallobe, whereas ‘11968-04’ has a medium callus, lighter green peduncles,an obtuse petal apex, and a striped and dotted lateral lobe.Additionally, ‘PHALFLAJ’ has longer petals and whiskers than ‘11968-04’.

The male parent of ‘PHALFLAJ’, cultivar ‘23266-02’ (unpatented), is nolonger in existence, so a meaningful comparison cannot be made.

‘PHALFLAJ’ is most similar to the commercial Phalaenopsis plants named‘PHALBAPAK’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,508) and ‘PHALDUXI’ (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 25,680). ‘PHALFLAJ’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALBAPAK’in that ‘PHALFLAJ’ has lateral sepals with no over color and dorsalsepal lower surfaces with no over color, whereas ‘PHALBAPAK’ has lateralsepals with light green and light purple over color towards the apex,and dorsal sepal lower surfaces with light purple and yellow-green overcolor. Additionally, ‘PHALFLAJ’ has shorter petals than ‘PHALBAPAK’.

‘PHALFLAJ’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALDUXI’ in that‘PHALFLAJ’ has lateral sepals with even coloring at the base and arounded petal apex, whereas ‘PHALDUXI’ has lateral sepals withdots/spots at the base and a mucronate petal apex. Additionally,‘PHALFLAJ’ has longer petals than ‘PHALDUXI’.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named‘PHALFLAJ’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.